Dna vaccines against tumor growth and methods of use thereof

ABSTRACT

A DNA vaccine suitable for eliciting an immune response against cancer cells comprises a DNA construct operably encoding a cancer-associated Inhibitor of Apoptosis-family protein and an immunoactive gene product, such as a cytokine or a ligand for a natural killer cell surface receptor, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A preferred cytokine is CCL21. Preferred ligands for a natural killer cell surface receptor include human MICA, human MICB, human ULBP1, human ULBP2, and human ULBP3. The cancer-associated Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP)-family protein is preferably a survivin protein or livin protein. Method of inhibiting tumor growth by administering the vaccine of the invention to a mammal is also described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/807,897, filed on Mar. 24, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/457,009, filed on Mar. 24, 2003,each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

GOVERNMENTAL RIGHTS

A portion of the work described herein was supported by grant numberCA83856 from the National Institutes of Health, and grant numbersBC031079, DAMD 17-02-1-0137 and DAMD 17-02-1-0562 from the Department ofDefense. The United States Government has certain rights in thisinvention.

INCORPORATION OF SEQUENCE LISTING

This application includes biological sequence information, which is setforth in an ASCII text file having the file name “TSRI8741SEQ.TXT”,created on Mar. 24, 2004, and having a file size of 51,968 bytes, whichis incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vaccines encodingsuitable molecules effective for eliciting an immune response againsttumor cells. More particularly this invention relates to DNA vaccinesencoding for a cancer-associated Inhibitor of Apoptosis-family (IAP)protein, and an immunoactive gene product. This invention also relatesto methods of using the DNA vaccines to inhibit tumor growth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vaccines have been utilized to provide a long term protection against anumber of disease conditions by very limited administration of aprophylactic agent that stimulates an organism's immune system todestroy disease pathogens before they can proliferate and cause apathological effect. Various approaches to vaccines and vaccinations aredescribed in Bernard R. Glick and Jack J. Pasternak, MolecularBiotechnology, Principles and Applications of Recombinant DNA, SecondEdition, ASM Press pp. 253-276 (1998).

Vaccination is a means of inducing the body's own immune system to seekout and destroy an infecting agent before it causes a pathologicalresponse. Typically, vaccines are either live, but attenuated,infectious agents (virus or bacteria), or a killed form of the agent. Avaccine consisting of a live bacteria or virus must be non-pathogenic.Typically, a bacterial or viral culture is attenuated (weakened) byphysical or chemical treatment. Although the agent is nonvirulent, itcan still elicit an immune response in a subject treated with thevaccine.

An immune response is elicited by antigens, which can be either specificmacromolecules or an infectious agent. These antigens are generallyeither proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, or glycolipids, which arerecognized as “foreign” by lymphocytes known as B cells and T cells.Exposure of both types of lymphocytes to an antigen elicits a rapid celldivision and differentiation response, resulting in the formation ofclones of the exposed lymphocytes. B cells produce plasma cells, whichin turn, produce proteins called antibodies (Ab), which selectively bindto the antigens present on the infectious agent, thus neutralizing orinactivating the pathogen (humoral immunity). In some cases, B cellresponse requires the assistance of CD4 helper T cells.

The specialized T cell clone that forms in response to the antigenexposure is a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), which is capable of bindingto and eliminating pathogens and tissues that present the antigen(cell-mediated or cellular immunity). In some cases, an antigenpresenting cell (APC) such as a dendritic cell, will envelop a pathogenor other foreign cell by endocytosis. The APC then processes theantigens from the cells and presents these antigens in the form of ahistocompatibility molecule:peptide complex to the T cell receptor (TCR)on CTLs, thus stimulating an immune response.

Humoral immunity characterized by the formation of specific antibodiesis generally most effective against acute bacterial infections andrepeat infections from viruses, whereas cell-mediated immunity is mosteffective against viral infection, chronic intracellular bacterialinfection, and fungal infection. Cellular immunity is also known toprotect against cancers and is responsible for rejection of organtransplants.

Antibodies to antigens from prior infections remain detectable in theblood for very long periods of time, thus affording a means ofdetermining prior exposure to a pathogen. Upon re-exposure to the samepathogen, the immune system effectively prevents reinfection byeliminating the pathogenic agent before it can proliferate and produce apathogenic response.

The same immune response that would be elicited by a pathogen can alsosometimes be produced by a non-pathogenic agent that presents the sameantigen as the pathogen. In this manner, the subject can be protectedagainst subsequent exposure to the pathogen without having previouslyfought off an infection.

Not all infectious agents can be readily cultured and inactivated, as isrequired for vaccine formation, however. Modern recombinant DNAtechniques have allowed the engineering of new vaccines to seek toovercome this limitation. Infectious agents can be created that lack thepathogenic genes, thus allowing a live, nonvirulent form of the organismto be used as a vaccine. It is also possible to engineer a relativelynonpathogenic organism such as E. coli to present the cell surfaceantigens of a pathogenic carrier. The immune system of a subjectvaccinated with such a transformed carrier is “tricked” into formingantibodies to the pathogen. The antigenic proteins of a pathogenic agentcan be engineered and expressed in a nonpathogenic species and theantigenic proteins can be isolated and purified to produce a “subunitvaccine.” Subunit vaccines have the advantage of being stable, safe, andchemically well defined; however, their production can be costprohibitive.

A new approach to vaccines has emerged in recent years, broadly termedgenetic immunization. In this approach, a gene encoding an antigen of apathogenic agent is operably inserted into cells in the subject to beimmunized. The treated cells, preferably antigen presenting cells (APCs)such as the dendritic cells, are transformed and produce the antigenicproteins of the pathogen. These in vivo-produced antigens then triggerthe desired immune response in the host. The genetic material utilizedin such genetic vaccines can be either a DNA or RNA construct. Often thepolynucleotide encoding the antigen is introduced in combination withother promoter polynucleotide sequences to enhance insertion,replication, or expression of the gene.

DNA vaccines encoding antigen genes can be introduced into the hostcells of the subject by a variety of delivery systems. These deliverysystems include prokaryotic and viral delivery systems. For example, oneapproach is to utilize a viral vector, such as vaccinia virusincorporating the new genetic material, to innoculate the host cells.Alternatively, the genetic material can be incorporated in a plasmidvector or can be delivered directly to the host cells as a “naked”polynucleotide, i.e. simply as purified DNA. In addition, the DNA can bestably transfected into attenuated bacteria such as Salmonellatyphimurium. When a patient is orally vaccinated with the transformedSalmonella, the bacteria are transported to Peyer's patches in the gut(i.e., secondary lymphoid tissues), which then stimulate an immuneresponse.

DNA vaccines provide an opportunity to immunize against disease statesthat are not caused by traditional pathogens, such as genetic diseasesand cancer. Typically, a genetic cancer vaccine introduces into APCs agene that encodes an antigen, and the so transformed APCs produceantigens to a specific type of tumor cell. An effective general vaccineagainst a number of cancer types can thus entail numerous individualvaccines for each type of cancer cell to be immunized against.

Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (i.e., IAP-family proteins) are a classof natural antigens expressed in many different tumor cells. As the namesuggests, these proteins, in their natural form, inhibit apoptosis(i.e., programmed cell death), which in turn, may lead to resistance ofcancer cells to apoptosis inducing chemotherapeutic agents, such asetoposide. Examples of IAP-family proteins include Xchromosome-associated IAP (XIAP), NAIP, cIAP1 (also known as BIRC2),cIAP2 (also known as BIRC3), bruce (also known as BIRC6), survivin (alsoknown as BIRC5), and livin (also known as BIRC7, KIAP, and ML-IAP). Themammalian IAP family of proteins includes proteins with three BIRdomains (e.g., XIAP, cIAP1, cIAP2, and NAIP), as well as proteins with asingle BIR domain (e.g., survivin and livin).

Tamm et al. Cancer Res. 1998; 58(23):5315-20, have reported expressionof the human survivin in 60 human tumor cell lines. Tamm et al. havealso reported that survivin and XIAP were both effective at inhibitingprogrammed cell death (apoptosis) induced by treatment of tumor cellswith apoptosis inducing agents such as Bax or Fas (CD95). Survivin andother IAP-family proteins reportedly inhibit apoptosis by binding toeffector cell death proteases, e.g., caspase-3 and caspase-7. Mutationsin IAP-family proteins can lead to reduced apoptosis inhibition activityor even to apoptosis inducing activity relative to the activity of thewild-type IAP-family protein. The anti-apoptotic activity of theIAP-family proteins is believed to be associated with the BIR domain.

Survivin reportedly is present in most common human cancer cells,including cancers of the lung, prostate, breast, and pancreas. Survivinhas also been identified in high-grade, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, but notin low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Reportedly, survivin is present innormal cells during fetal development, but unlike most other IAP-familyproteins, survivin is virtually undetectable in normal adult humantissues. See Ambrosini et al. Nat. Med. 1997; 3(8):917-21.

Livin has been detected in some adult tissues and in embryonic tissues.Elevated levels of livin expression have been reported in melanomas,colon cancer cells, bladder cancer cells, and lung cancer cells. Twosplice variants of livin have been reported, both of which contain asingle BIR domain. The full length alpha variant has 298 amino acidresidues, whereas the beta variant has 280 amino acid residues.

IAP-family proteins also have been identified in a number of species inaddition to humans, including mammals such as the mouse, amphibians suchas Xenopus species (African clawed toads), insects such as Drosophilaspecies, and baculoviruses.

The ubiquitous and highly selective nature of survivin expression incancer cells makes it a potentially useful diagnostic marker for cancer.For example, Rohayem et al. Cancer Res. 2000; 60:1815-17, havereportedly identified auto-antibodies to survivin in human lung andcolorectal cancer patients.

Survivin has also been identified as a target for cancer therapy. Theinhibiting effect of survivin on caspase-3 and caspase-7 has beenimplicated in the resistance of cancer cells to various apoptosisstimulating chemotherapeutic treatments. An antisense oligonucleotidethat targets survivin expression has been reported to down-regulatesurvivin expression in an adenocarcinoma cell line and sensitize thecancer cells to the chemotherapeutic agent etoposide. See Olie et al.Cancer Res. 2000; 60:2805-9; and Mesri et al. J. Clinical Res., 2001;108:981-990.

Cytokines are proteins and polypeptides produced by cells that canaffect the behavior of other cells, such as cell proliferation, celldifferentiation, regulation of immune responses, hematopoiesis, andinflammatory responses. Cytokines have been classified into a number offamilies, including chemokines, hematopoietins, immunoglobulins, tumornecrosis factors, and a variety of unassigned molecules. See generallyOxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, RevisedEdition, Oxford University Press, 2000; and C. A. Janeway, P. Travers,M. Walport and M. Schlomchik, Immunobiology, Fifth Edition, GarlandPublishing, 2001 (hereinafter Janeway and Travers). A conciseclassification of cytokines is presented in Janeway and Travers,Appendix III, pages 677-679, the relevant disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

Hematopoietins include, for example erythropoietin, interleukin-2 (IL-2,a 133 amino acid protein produced by T cells and involved in T cellproliferation), IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-9, IL-11, IL-13, IL-15(a 114 amino acid IL-2-like protein, which stimulates the growth ofintestinal epithelium, T cells, and NK cells), granulocytecolony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophagecolony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), oncostatin M (OSM), and leukemiainhibitory factor (LIF).

Interferons include, for example, IFN-α, IFN-β, and IFN-γ (a 143 aminoacid homodimeric protein produced by T cells and NK cells, which isinvolved in macrophage activation, increased expression of MHC moleculesand antigen processing components, IG class switching, and suppressionof T_(H)2).

Immunoglobulins include, for example, B7.1 (CD80), and B7.2 (CD86), bothof which co-stimulate T cell responses.

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family includes, for example, TNF-α,TNF-β (lymphotoxin), lymphotoxin-β (LT-β), CD40 ligand, Fas ligand, CD27ligand, CD30 ligand, 4-1BB ligand, Trail, and OPG ligand.

Various cytokines that are not assigned to a particular family include,for example, tumor growth factor-β (TGF-β), IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1 RA,IL-10, IL-12 (natural killer cell stimulatory factor; a heterodimerhaving a 197 amino acid chain and a 306 amino acid chain, which isinvolved in NK cell activation and induction of T cell differentiationto T_(H)1-like cells), macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF), IL-16, IL-17(a cytokine production-inducing factor, which induces cytokineproduction in epithelia, endothelia, and fibroblasts), and IL-18.

Chemokines are a family of cytokines that are relatively smallchemoattractant proteins and polypeptides, which stimulate the migrationand activation of various cells, such as leucocyte migration (e.g.,phagocytes and lymphocytes). Chemokines play a role in inflammation andother immune responses. Chemokines have been classified into a number offamilies, including the C chemokines, CC chemokines, CXC chemokines, andCX₃C chemokines. The names refer to the number and spacing of cysteineresidues in the molecules; C chemokines having one cysteine, CCchemokines having two contiguous cysteines, CXC having two cysteinesseparated by a single amino acid residue, and CX₃C chemokines having twocysteines separated by three amino acid residues. Chemokines interactwith a number of chemokine receptors present on cell surfaces. SeeJaneway and Travers, Appendix IV, page 680, the relevant disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

In addition, chemokines can have immunomodulating activity and have beenimplicated in immune responses to cancer. For example, murine6Ckine/SLC, the mouse analog of the human secondary lymphoid tissuechemokine (SLC), now commonly referred to as CCL21, has been reported toinduce an antitumor response in a C-26 colon carcinoma tumor cell line.See Vicari, et al. J. Immunol. 2000; 165(4):1992-2000. Human CCL21 andits murine counterpart, 6Ckine/SLC, are classified as CC chemokines,which interact with the CCR7 chemokine receptor. Murine 6Ckine/SLC(muCCL21) is also reported by Vicari et al. to be a ligand for the CXCR3chemokine receptor. Human CCL21, murine muCCL21 and a variety of otherchemokines are implicated in the regulation of various immune systemcells such as dendritic cells, T-cells, and natural killer (NK) cells.

Mig and IP-10 are CXC chemokines that interact with the CXCR3 receptor,which is associated with activated T cells. Lymphotactin is a Cchemokine, which intereacts with the XCR1 receptor associated with Tcells and NK cells. Fractalkine is a CX₃C chemokine, which interact withthe CX₃CR1 receptor that is associated with T cells, monocytes andneutrophils.

NK cells are large granular lyphocytes that recognize and destroy cellsthat have been infected with a virus. NK cells can be regulated byinteraction of immunomodulating polypeptide ligands with receptors onthe NK cell surface. For example, ligands for the NKG2D receptor thatcan regulate NK cell activity, include chemokines such as muCCL21, andstress-inducible polypeptide ligands such as MHC class I chain-relatedantigens and UL16 binding proteins. Murine H60 minor histocompatibilityantigen peptide is reported to bind to the NKG2D receptor, as well. See,e.g., Robertson et al. Cell Immunol. 2000; 199(1):8-14; Choi et al.Immunity 2002, 17(5):593-603, and Farag et al., Blood, 2002;100(6):1935-1947.

The present invention fulfills an ongoing need for vaccines that canstimulate a general immune response against cancer cells by providing aDNA vaccine encoding a cancer-associated IAP-family protein and animmunoactive gene product in a single vector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A DNA vaccine effective for eliciting an immune response against cancercells comprises a DNA construct operably encoding a cancer-associatedIAP-family protein and an immunoactive gene product in apharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Preferably, the DNA construct isoperably incorporated in a vector such as an attenuated bacterium (e.g.,an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium vector). The DNA vaccine includes apolynucleotide that encodes at least one cancer-associated IAP-familyprotein together with a polynucleotide that encodes an immunoactive geneproduct. Preferably the DNA construct encodes a cancer-associatedIAP-family protein that is substantially absent from adult tissues, butwhich is elevated in cancer tissues, such as a survivin protein (e.g., ahuman survivin, murine survivin, and the like), or a livin protein.Preferably the immunoreactive gene product encoded by the DNA constructis a cytokine, a ligand for a natural killer cell surface receptor, or asimilar immunoreactive molecule.

In one embodiment, the DNA vaccine preferably comprises a DNA thatoperably encodes a survivin protein selected from the group consistingof (a) wild-type human survivin having the amino acid residue sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 2, (b) an immunogenic homolog of wild-type human survivinhaving an amino acid residue sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ IDNO: 2, (c) a splice variant of human survivin having the amino acidresidue sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, (d) a splice variant of humansurvivin having the amino acid residue sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24, and(e) a fragment of a survivin protein that binds to a MHC class 1molecule and is recognized by cytotoxic T cells.

In yet another embodiment, the DNA vaccine preferably comprises a DNAconstruct that operably encodes a livin protein selected from the groupconsisting of (a) full length wild-type human livin alpha splice varianthaving the amino acid residue sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27, (b) human livinbeta splice variant having the amino acid residue sequence of SEQ ID NO:29, (c) an immunogenic homolog of full length wild-type human livinhaving an amino acid residue sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ IDNO: 27, (d) an immunogenic homolog of wild-type human livin beta splicevariant having an amino acid residue sequence at least 80% identical toSEQ ID NO: 29, and (e) a fragment of a livin protein that binds to a MHCclass I molecule and is recognized by cytotoxic T cells.

Preferred cytokines include chemokines, such as human CCL21, murineCCL21, lymphotactin, fractalkine, IP-10, and the like, hematopoietins,such as IL-2, IL-15, and the like; interferons, such as IFN-γ and thelike; as well as other cytokines associated with T cell and NK cellmigration or proliferation, such as IL-12, IL-17 and the like.

Preferred natural killer cell surface receptor ligands arestress-inducible proteins such as human MICA, human MICB, human ULBP1,human ULBP2, human ULBP3, and the like, which bind to the NKG2D cellsurface receptor. Particularly preferred NKG2D ligands are MICA andMICB.

Conventional adjuvants such as alum, oil-in-water emulsions,preservatives, and the like, can be present in the vaccines, as well.The DNA vaccines of the present invention stimulate an immune responseagainst tumor cells, including stimulation of tumor cell apoptosis, thusinhibiting tumor growth and metastases.

In a method aspect of the present invention, a DNA vaccine is utilizedto provide long term inhibition of tumor growth in a vaccinated patient.A DNA vaccine comprising a polynucleotide construct operably encoding aIAP-family protein and an immunoactive gene product in apharmaceutically acceptable carrier is administered (preferably orally)to a patient in need of inhibition of tumor growth in an amount that issufficient to elicit an immune response against tumor cells.

The vaccines of the present invention are useful for treatment ofvarious types of cancers. For example, a patient suffering from a lungcancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma, and the like, can benefit fromimmunization by the vaccines of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the Drawings, FIG. 1 depicts the nucleic acid sequence encoding humansurvivin, SEQ ID NO: 1;

FIG. 2 depicts the amino acid residue sequence of human survivin, SEQ IDNO: 2;

FIG. 3 depicts the nucleic acid sequence encoding murine TIAP, SEQ IDNO: 3;

FIG. 4 depicts the amino acid residue sequence of murine TIAP, SEQ IDNO: 4;

FIG. 5 depicts the protein homology between human survivin and murineTIAP;

FIG. 6 depicts the nucleic acid sequence encoding human SLC (CCL21), SEQID NO: 5;

FIG. 7 depicts the amino acid residue sequence of human SLC (CCL21), SEQID NO: 6;

FIG. 8 depicts the nucleic acid sequence encoding murine6Ckine/SLC(muCCL21), SEQ ID NO: 7;

FIG. 9 depicts the amino acid residue sequence of murine 6Ckine/SLC(muCCL21), SEQ ID NO: 8;

FIG. 10 depicts the protein homology between human SLC (CCL21) andmurine 6Ckine/SLC (muCCL21);

FIG. 11 depicts a partial nucleic acid sequence encoding murine minorhistocompatibility antigen peptide H60, SEQ ID NO: 9;

FIG. 12 depicts a partial amino acid residue sequence of minorhistocompatibility antigen peptide H60, SEQ ID NO: 10;

FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of DNA constructs encoding asurvivin protein (murine survivin, also known as TIAP) and animmunomodulating chemokine (CCL21, also known as SLC) in a pBudCE4.1vector;

FIG. 14A graphically depicts average tumor volume for pulmonarymetastases of Lewis lung carcinomas in mice treated with a controlbuffer (E), a control vaccine comprising an empty vector (D), a DNAvaccine comprising a chemokine (C), a vaccine comprising a survivinprotein (B) and a vaccine of the invention (A); FIG. 14B includespictures of typical lung tumor metastases excised from the micevaccinated as described in FIG. 14A;

FIG. 15 depicts the T cell mediated cytotoxicity induced by the DNAvaccines described in FIG. 14A against D121 lung cancer cells; thepercentage of lysis (Y-axis) is plotted for three different effectorcell to target cell (E/T) ratios for each vaccination (i.e., 100:1,first data point; 50:1, second data point; and 25:1, third data point);

FIG. 16 graphically illustrates upregulated expression of T cellactivation molecules in mice vaccinated with a vaccine of the inventionas determined by flow cytometry analysis;

FIG. 17 graphically illustrates enhanced expression of co-stimulatorymolecules by dendritic cells following vaccinations of mice with avaccine of the invention and various control vaccines;

FIG. 18 illustrates induction of intracellular cytokine releasefollowing vaccinations of mice with a vaccine of the invention andvarious control vaccines, as determined by flow cytometry analysis;

FIG. 19 illustrates FACS plots demonstrating an increase in apoptosis inD121 lung tumor cells following vaccination of mice with the vaccine ofthe invention and various control vaccines (A) 3 hours aftervaccination; and (B) 24 hours after vaccination;

FIG. 20 depicts a schematic representation of expression constructsincorporating TIAP and minor histocompatibility antigen peptide H60;

FIG. 21 graphically illustrates data from cytotoxicity assays ofsplenocytes isolated from mice vaccinated with a vaccine of theinvention;

FIG. 22 depicts lungs excised from mice vaccinated as described inExample 10 (top) and a bar graph (bottom) of average lung weight of micefrom the treatment groups;

FIG. 23 is a graph of the percentage survival of mice vaccinated andchallenged with CT-26 tumor cells;

FIG. 24 illustrates expression of H60 peptide (A) and muSurvivin (B);

FIG. 25 illustrates the nucleic acid sequence encoding the CCL21bvariant of 6CKine/SLC, SEQ ID NO: 11;

FIG. 26 illustrates the amino acid residue sequence of the CCL21bvariant of 6CKine/SLC, SEQ ID NO: 12;

FIG. 27 illustrates the nucleic acid sequence encoding the human MICA,SEQ ID NO: 13;

FIG. 28 illustrates the amino acid residue sequence of the human MICA,SEQ ID NO: 14;

FIG. 29 illustrates the nucleic acid sequence encoding the human MICB,SEQ ID NO: 15;

FIG. 30 illustrates the amino acid residue sequence of the human MICB,SEQ ID NO: 16;

FIG. 31 illustrates the nucleic acid sequence encoding the human ULBP1,SEQ ID NO: 17;

FIG. 32 illustrates the amino acid residue sequence of the human ULBP1,SEQ ID NO: 18;

FIG. 33 illustrates the nucleic acid sequence encoding the human ULBP2,SEQ ID NO: 19;

FIG. 34 illustrates the amino acid residue sequence of the human ULBP2,SEQ ID NO: 20;

FIG. 35 illustrates the nucleic acid sequence encoding the human ULBP3,SEQ ID NO: 21;

FIG. 36 illustrates the amino acid residue sequence of the human ULBP3,SEQ ID NO: 22;

FIG. 37 illustrates the amino acid residue sequence of the humansurvivin splice variant survivin-2B (SEQ ID NO: 23) and splice variantsurvivin-ΔEx3 (SEQ ID NO:24);

FIG. 38 is reproduction of GENBANK record for Accession No. NP 005922,describing allelic variants of MICB;

FIG. 39 depicts the nucleic acid sequence encoding full length humanlivin alpha splice variant, SEQ ID NO: 26;

FIG. 40 depicts the amino acid residue sequence of human livin alphasplice variant, SEQ ID NO: 27;

FIG. 41 depicts the nucleic acid sequence encoding human livin betasplice variant, SEQ ID NO: 28; and

FIG. 42 depicts the amino acid residue sequence of human livin betasplice variant, SEQ ID NO: 29.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A DNA vaccine effective for eliciting an immune response against tumorcells comprises a DNA construct that operably encodes an IAP-familyprotein and an immunoactive gene product. The term “DNA construct” asused herein and in the appended claims means a synthetic DNA structurethat can be transcribed in target cells. The construct can comprise alinear nucleic acid such as a purified DNA, a DNA incorporated in aplasmid vector, or a DNA incorporated into any other vector suitable forintroducing DNA into a host cell. Preferably, the DNA is incorporated ina viral or bacterial vector, more preferably an attenuated viral orbacterial vector that is non-pathogenic, most preferably in anattenuated bacterial vector.

As used herein, the term “immunity” refers to long term immunologicalprotection against the virulent form of the infectious agent or tumorantigen. The term “immunization” refers to prophylactic exposure to anantigen of a pathogenic agent derived from a non-virulent source, whichresults in immunity to the pathogen in the treated subject.

The term “antibody”, as used herein, refers to a molecule that is aglycosylated protein, an immunoglobulin, which specifically binds to anantigen.

The term “antigen”, as used herein, denotes an entity that, whenintroduced into an immunocompetent animal, stimulates production ofspecific antibody or antibodies that can combine with the antigen. Theterm “immunogen”, as used herein, denotes an entity that is not byitself able to stimulate antibody production but may do so if combinedwith a carrier.

The term “conservative substitution”, as used herein, denotesreplacement of one amino acid residue by another, biologically similarresidue. Examples of conservative substitutions include the substitutionof one hydrophobic residue such as isoleucine, valine, leucine ormethionine for another, or the substitution of one hydrophilic residuesuch as arginine for lysine and vice versa, glutamic acid for asparticacid vice versa, or glutamine for asparagine and vice versa, and thelike.

The term “substantially corresponds” in its various grammatical forms asused herein relating to peptide sequences means a peptide sequence asdescribed plus or minus up to three amino acid residues at either orboth of the amino- and carboxy-termini and containing only conservativesubstitutions along the polypeptide sequence.

The term “immunoactive gene product” and grammatical variations thereof,as used herein and in the appended claims, includes proteins andpolypeptides having an immunomodulating activity, such as proteins andpolypeptides that interact with, and modulate the activity of T cellsand NK cells.

The term “IAP-family protein” as used herein and in the appended claimsincludes any of the class of natural antigens expressed in tumor cells,which inhibit apoptosis in their natural form. IAP-family proteinsinclude, for example, human survivin, human X chromosome-linked IAP(XIAP), murine TIAP (the murine analog of survivin), human livin, humanc-IAP-1, human c-IAP-2, human NAIP, any other protein that includes atleast one baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis repeat (BIR) domain, or ahomolog thereof. The BIR domain is present in all wild-type IAP-familyproteins. It includes four relatively short alpha-helices and a regionof three stranded anti-parallel beta sheet structure. The domain bindsZn using three cysteine residues and a histidine residue, which areconserved across IAP-family proteins. The term “IAP-family protein” asused herein and in the appended claims also includes variants ofwild-type IAP proteins such as splice variants and substitutionvariants, and the like, as well as fragments and immunogenic homologsthereof that bind to a major histocompatibility (MHC) class I moleculeand are recognized by cytotoxic T-cells (i.e., survivin proteinepitopes).

The term “cancer-associated” as used herein and in the appended claims,in reference to IAP-family proteins means an IAP-family protein that isexpressed at elevated levels in cancer cells than it is in normal,non-cancerous cells. Examples of cancer-associated IAP-family proteinsinclude, without limitation, human survivin and human livin.

The term “survivin protein” as used herein and in the appended claimsincludes the full length human survivin molecule (SEQ ID NO: 2), thefull length murine analog thereof (i.e., TIAP, as described herein),variants of human survivin or murine survivin, such as splice variantsand substitution variants, as well as fragments (e.g., epitopes) ofhuman survivin and immunogenic homologs of human survivin that bind to amajor histocompatibility (MHC) class I molecule and are recognized bycytotoxic T cells. Known substitution variants of human survivin includea protein having the substitution T34A in the amino acid residuesequence of SEQ ID NO:2, a protein having the substitution D53A in theamino acid residue sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, and a protein having thesubstitution C84A in the amino acid residue sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 (seeSong et al., Mol. Biol. Cell, 2004; 15(3):1287-1296, E-publication Dec.29, 2003). Each of these known variants has apoptotic activity, incontrast to wild-type survivin which has anti-apototic activity.

In a preferred embodiment, the DNA vaccine of the present inventioncomprises a DNA construct that operably encodes a survivin protein suchas wild-type human survivin having the amino acid residue sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 2, an immunogenic homolog of wild-type human survivin havingan amino acid residue sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2, asplice variant of human survivin having the amino acid residue sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 23, a splice variant of human survivin having the aminoacid residue sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24, and a fragment of a survivinprotein that binds to a MHC class I molecule and is recognized bycytotoxic T cells.

The term “livin protein” as used herein and in the appended claimsincludes the full length human livin alpha splice variant (SEQ ID NO:27), the beta splice variant of human livin (SEQ ID NO: 29),substitution variants of human livin alpha and beta splice variants, aswell as fragments and immunogenic homologs thereof that bind to a MHCClass I molecule and are recognized by cytotoxic T-cells.

In another preferred embodiment, the DNA vaccine of the presentinvention comprises a DNA construct that operably encodes a livinprotein such as full length wild-type human livin alpha splice varianthaving the amino acid residue sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27, human livinbeta splice variant having the amino acid residue sequence of SEQ ID NO:29, an immunogenic homolog of full length wild-type human livin havingan amino acid residue sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO: 27,an immunogenic homolog of wild-type human livin beta splice varianthaving an amino acid residue sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ IDNO: 29, and a fragment of a livin protein that binds to a MHC class Imolecule and is recognized by cytotoxic T cells.

As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “immunogenichomolog” and grammatical variations thereof, when used in reference tocancer-associated IAP-family proteins such as survivin and livin, meansa protein having a high degree of homology to a wild-typecancer-associated IAP-family protein and which can bind to a MHC Class Imolecule and can be recognized by cytotoxic T-cells that are activeagainst the corresponding wild-type IAP family protein. Preferably theimmunogenic homologs have an amino acid residue sequence that is atleast about 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of the wild-typecancer-associated IAP-family protein, more preferably at least about 90%identical, most preferably at least about 95% identical.

Without being bound by theory, it is believed that vaccination of apatient, such as a human patient, with a vaccine of the invention leadsto selective presentation of antigens derived from cancer-associatedIAP-family protein on the surface of immune cells, such as antigenpresenting cells, and in addition to the selective expression of theimmunoactive gene product in these cells. Increased presentation of thecancer-associated IAP-family protein, such as a survivin protein orlivin protein on the cell surface of the antigen presenting cell, incombination with expression of an immunoactive gene product, such as acytokine or a ligand for a NK cell surface receptor, leads to anenhanced immune response against cancer cells that expresscancer-associated IAP-family proteins, such as a survivin protein orlivin protein. In adult humans, survivin is expressed almost exclusivelyin cancer cells. Similarly, livin expression is reportedly elevated insome cancer cell lines, particularly melanoma cell lines.

In a preferred embodiment, the DNA vaccine comprises a polynucleotidesequence that operably encodes a survivin protein and a cytokinePreferably, the survivin protein is human survivin, a murine survivin,or an epitope thereof. Preferably the cytokine modulates T cell or NKcell activity. Preferred cytokines include chemokines, hematopoietins,and interferons. Other preferred cytokines include NK cell activatingcytokines such as IL-12 and cytokine production-stimulating factors suchas IL-17.

In another preferred embodiment the DNA vaccine comprises apolynucleotide sequence that operably encodes a livin protein and acytokine. Preferably the livin protein is wild-type human livin or anepitope thereof. Preferably the cytokine modulates T-cell or NK cellactivity. Preferred cytokines include, chemokines, hematopoietins andinterferons. Other preferred cytokines include NK cell activatingcytokines such as IL-12 and cytokine production-stimulating factors suchas IL-17.

Preferred chemokines include CC chemokines, particularly those which areligands for the CCR7 chemokine receptor, such as CCL21 (SLC) and thelike; C chemokines that are ligands for the CR1 receptor, such aslymphotactin, and the like; CX₃C chemokines that are ligands for theCX₃CR1 receptor, such as fractalkine, and the like; CXC chemokines,particularly those which are ligands for the CXCR3 receptor, such asIP-10 and the like. Most preferably the chemokine is human CCL21 or themurine analog thereof (murine CCL21).

Preferred hematopoietins include T cell growth factors such as IL-2,IL-15, and the like. Preferred interferons include those produced by Tcells and NK cells such as IFN-γ, and the like. Other preferredcytokines include NK cell activating cytokines such as IL-12, and thelike, and cytokines that induce cytokine production in cells such asepithelia, endothelia, and fibrolasts, including IL-17, and the like.

In another preferred embodiment, the DNA vaccine comprises apolynucleotide sequence that operably encodes a survivin protein and aligand for a natural killer cell surface receptor. Preferably, thesurvivin protein is human survivin, murine survivin or an epitope ofhuman survivin. Preferably the ligand for a natural killer cell surfacereceptor is a ligand for the NKG2D cell surface receptor. Preferably theligand for the NKG2D cell surface receptor is a MHC class Ichain-related (MIC) antigen such as MICA and MICB, a UL16 bindingprotein (ULBP) such as ULBP1, ULBP2, and ULBP3, and the like. MurineNKG2D ligands include, for example, Rae1 and minor histocompatibilityantigen peptide H60. Most preferably, the ligand for the NKG2D cellsurface receptor is MICA or MICB

In yet another preferred embodiment the DNA vaccine comprises apolynucleotide sequence that operably enclodes a livin protein and aligand for a NK cell receptor. The livin protein can be wild-type humanlivin or an epitope of human livin or a livin variant.

Preferably, a DNA construct of the present invention, which operablyencodes a cancer-associated IAP-family protein and an immunoactive geneproduct, is also operably linked to regulatory elements needed for geneexpression, which are well known in the art.

Preferably the DNA construct is operably incorporated in an expressionvector such as the BUDCE4.1 expression vector available from Invitrogen,Inc., Carlsbad, Calif. Other suitable expression vectors arecommercially available, for example, from BD Biosciences Clonetech, PaloAlto, Calif. Once incorporated in the expression vector, the DNAconstruct can be introduced into a host vector such as a live,attenuated bacterial vector by transfecting the host cell with theexpression vector to provide a vaccine of the present invention.

DNA constructs preferably include regulatory elements necessary forexpression of nucleotides. Such elements include, for example, apromoter, an initiation codon, a stop codon, and a polyadenylationsignal. In addition, enhancers are often required for expression of asequence that encodes an immunogenic target protein. As is known in theart, these elements are preferably operably linked to the sequence thatencodes the desired protein. Regulatory elements are preferably selectedthat are compatible with the species to which they are to beadministered.

Initiation codons and stop codons are preferably included as part of anucleotide sequence that encodes the survivin protein and theimmunomodulating polypeptide in a genetic vaccine of the presentinvention. The initiation and termination codons must, of course, be inframe with the coding sequences for the survivin protein and theimmunomodulating polypeptide.

Promoters and polyadenylation signals included in a vaccine of thepresent invention are preferably selected to be functional within thecells of the subject to be immunized.

Examples of promoters useful in the vaccines of the present invention,especially in the production of a genetic vaccine for humans, includebut are not limited to promoters from Simian Virus 40 (SV40), MouseMammary Tumor Virus (MMTV) promoter, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)such as the HIV Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) promoter, Moloney virus,Cytomegalovirus (CMV) such as the CMV immediate early promoter, EpsteinBarr Virus (EBV), Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) as well as promoters fromhuman genes such as human actin, human myosin, human hemoglobin, humanmuscle creatine, and human metalothionein.

Examples of polyadenylation signals useful in the vaccines of thepresent invention, especially in the production of a genetic vaccine forhumans, include but are not limited to SV40 polyadenylation signals andLTR polyadenylation signals.

In addition to the regulatory elements required for DNA expression,other elements can also be included in the DNA molecule. Such additionalelements include enhancers. The enhancer can be, for example, humanactin, human myosin, human hemoglobin, human muscle creatine and viralenhancers such as those from CMV, RSV and EBV.

Regulatory sequences and codons are generally species dependent. Inorder to maximize protein production, the regulatory sequences andcodons are selected to be effective in the species to be immunized. Onehaving ordinary skill in the art can readily produce DNA constructs thatare functional in a given subject species.

The DNA constructs of the present vaccines can be “naked” DNA as definedin Restifo et al. Gene Therapy 2000; 7:89-92, the pertinent disclosureof which is incorporated by reference. Preferably, the DNA is operablyincorporated in a vector. Useful delivery vectors include biodegradablemicrocapsules, immuno-stimulating complexes (ISCOMs) or liposomes, andgenetically engineered attenuated live vectors such as viruses orbacteria.

Examples of suitable attenuated live bacterial vectors includeSalmonella typhimurium, Salmonella typhi, Shigella species, Bacillusspecies, Lactobacillus species, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG),Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Campylobacter species, Listeriaspecies, or any other suitable bacterial vector, as is known in the art.Preferably the vector is an attenuated live Salmonella typhimuriumvector. Preferred attenuated live Salmonella typhimurium include AroA⁻strains such as SL7207, or doubly attenuated AroA⁻, dam⁻ strains, suchas RE88. The doubly attenuated AroA⁻, dam⁻ Salmonella typhimurium is aparticularly preferred vector.

Methods of transforming live bacterial vectors with an exogenous DNAconstruct are well described in the art. See, for example, JosephSambrook and David W. Russell, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual,3rd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.(2001) (Sambrook and Russell).

Preferred viral vectors include Bacteriophages, Herpes virus,Adenovirus, Polio virus, Vaccinia virus, and Avipox. Methods oftransforming viral vector with an exogenous DNA construct are also welldescribed in the art. See Sambrook and Russell, above.

Useful liposome vectors are unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles,having a membrane portion formed of lipophilic material and an interioraqueous portion. The aqueous portion is used in the present invention tocontain the polynucleotide material to be delivered to the target cell.It is generally preferred that the liposome forming materials have acationic group, such as a quaternary ammonium group, and one or morelipophilic groups, such as saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups havingabout 6 to about 30 carbon atoms. One group of suitable materials isdescribed in European Patent Publication No. 0187702, and furtherdiscussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,844 to Wolff et al., the pertinentdisclosures of which are incorporated by reference. Many other suitableliposome-forming cationic lipid compounds are described in theliterature. See, e.g., L. Stamatatos, et al., Biochemistry 1988;27:3917-3925; and H. Eibl, et al., Biophysical Chemistry 1979;10:261-271. Alternatively, a microsphere such as apolylactide-coglycolide biodegradable microsphere can be utilized. Anucleic acid construct is encapsulated or otherwise complexed with theliposome or microsphere for delivery of the nucleic acid to a tissue, asis known in the art.

Other useful vectors include polymeric microspheres comprisingbiodegradable poly(ortho ester) materials, as described by Wang et al.,Nat. Mater., 2004; 3(3):190-6. Epub 2004 Feb. 15, the relevantdisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

A method aspect of the present invention involves administering DNAvaccine operably encoding a cancer-associated IAP-family protein and animmunoreactive gene product to the tissue of a mammal, such as a human.In some preferred embodiments, the DNA vaccines are administered orally,intramuscularly, intranasally, intraperitoneally, subcutaneously,intradermally, or topically. Preferably the DNA vaccine is administeredorally.

In a preferred method, a DNA vaccine of the present invention can beutilized to provide long term inhibition of tumor growth in a patienttreated with the vaccine. The DNA vaccine comprises a DNA polynucleotideconstruct operably encoding a cancer-associated IAP-family protein suchas a survivin protein, an immunoactive gene product such as a cytokineor a ligand for a NK cell surface receptor, and a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier therefor. The vaccine is administered to a mammal inneed of inhibition tumor growth in an amount that is sufficient toelicit an immune response against tumor cells.

Preferably, the mammal treated with a vaccine of the invention is ahuman. A patient suffering from cancer, such as lung or colon carcinoma,breast tumors, or prostate tumors, and the like cancers, can benefitfrom immunization by the vaccines of the present invention.

Vaccines of the present invention preferably are formulated withpharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients such as water,saline, dextrose, glycerol, and the like, as well as combinationsthereof. The vaccines can also contain auxiliary substances such aswetting agents, emulsifying agents, buffers, preservatives, adjuvants,and the like.

The vaccines of the present invention are preferably administered orallyto a mammal, such as a human, as a solution or suspension in apharmaceutically acceptable carrier, at a DNA concentration in the rangeof about 1 to about 10 micrograms per milliliter. The appropriate dosagewill depend upon the subject to be vaccinated, and in part upon thejudgment of the medical practitioner administering or requestingadministration of the vaccine.

The vaccines of the present invention can be packaged in suitablysterilized containers such as ampules, bottles, or vials, either inmulti-dose or in unit dosage forms. The containers are preferablyhermetically sealed after being filled with a vaccine preparation.Preferably, the vaccines are packaged in a container having a labelaffixed thereto, which label identifies the vaccine, and bears a noticein a form prescribed by a government agency such as the United StatesFood and Drug Administration reflecting approval of the vaccine underappropriate laws, dosage information, and the like. The label preferablycontains information about the vaccine that is useful to an health careprofessional administering the vaccine to a patient. The package alsopreferably contains printed informational materials relating to theadministration of the vaccine, instructions, indications, and anynecessary required warnings.

The human survivin DNA sequence and its corresponding protein sequencehave been reported by Strausberg in the EMBL database of the EuropeanBioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton,Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, DNA Accession No. BC034148, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference. The DNA sequence andcorresponding protein sequence of murine TIAP have been reported byKobayashi et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 1999; 96:1457-62; DNA AccessionNo. AB01389 in the EMBL database of the European BioinformaticsInstitute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD,UK, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The nucleic acid sequence encoding human survivin is presented in FIG. 1(SEQ ID NO: 1), and its corresponding amino acid residue sequence (SEQID NO: 2) is provided in FIG. 2. The nucleic acid sequence encodingmurine survivin (i.e., TIAP) is presented in FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO: 3), andits corresponding amino acid residue sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4) is providedin FIG. 4.

The protein homology between human survivin and its murine counterpart,TIAP, is illustrated in FIG. 5. There is about 83% amino acid residuesequence identity between human survivin (SEQ ID NO: 2) and murine TIAP(SEQ ID NO: 4) as shown in FIG. 5.

Mahotka et al. have identified two splice variants of human survivin,designated survivin-ΔEx3 and survivin-2B, which are also suitable foruse in the present invention. Mahotka et al. Cancer Res., 1999;59:6097-6102, the relevant disclosures of which are incorporated hereinby reference. The amino acid residue sequences of survivin-2B (SEQ IDNO: 23) and survivin-ΔEx3 (SEQ ID NO:24) are shown in FIG. 37. Hirohashiet al. have identified a potent T cell epitope from survivin-2B, havingthe amino acid residue sequence AYACNTSTL (SEQ ID NO: 25), designatedsurvivin-2B80-88, which elicits a cytotoxic T lymphocyte responseagainst survivin-2B. Hirohashi et al. Clinical Cancer Res., 2002;8:1731-39, the relevant disclosures of which is incorporated herein byreference. This epitope is a fragment of survivin which is capable ofbinding with a MHC class I molecule and is recognized by cytotoxic Tcells, and is suitable for use as the IAP-family protein component of avaccine of the present invention.

Another splice variant of human survivin is the survivin-3B variantdescribed by Badran et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 2004;314(3):902-907. The polynucleotide sequence encoding survivin-3B and itscorresponding amino acid residue sequence are reported in the EMBLdatabase of the European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust GenomeCampus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, DNA Accession No. AB154416, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Full length human livin (known as the alpha variant) is an IAP-familyprotein having a single BIR domain and consisting of 298 amino acidresidues. The DNA sequence and corresponding protein sequence of humanlivin alpha variant have been reported by Clark et al. in the EMBLdatabase of the European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust GenomeCampus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, DNA Accession No. NM 139317,the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The DNAsequence and corresponding protein sequence of the beta variant of humanlivin have been reported by; Accession No. NM 022161 in the EMBLdatabase of the European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust GenomeCampus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

The nucleic acid sequence encoding full length human livin (alphavariant) is presented in FIG. 39 (SEQ ID NO: 26), and its correspondingamino acid residue sequence (SEQ ID NO: 27) is provided in FIG. 40. Thenucleic acid sequence encoding the beta variant of human livin ispresented in FIG. 41 (SEQ ID NO: 28), and its corresponding amino acidresidue sequence (SEQ ID NO: 29) is provided in FIG. 42. The betavariant of human livin lacks amino acid residues 216 through 233 of thefull length human livin alpha splice variant (SEQ ID NO: 27). The betavariant is identical to the alpha variant of human livin in all otherrespects. The BIR domain of both the alpha and beta variants of humanlivin is in the region from amino acid residue R90 to amino acid residueL155 of SEQ ID NO: 27 and SEQ ID NO: 29).

In a preferred embodiment, the vaccines for the present inventioncomprise DNA constructs that encode one or more survivin proteins, suchas human survivin, TIAP (murine survivin), and immunogenic homologsthereof. The immunogenic homologs preferably share at least about 80%amino acid residue sequence identity with human survivin, morepreferably at least about 90% amino acid residue sequence identity, mostpreferably at least about 95% amino acid residue sequence identity withSEQ ID NO: 2. Alternatively, the vaccine can comprise a DNA constructthat encodes one or more T-cell epitopes of human survivin protein.

In another preferred embodiment, the vaccines for the present inventioncomprise DNA constructs that encode one or more livin proteins, such ashuman livin alpha and beta splice variants (SEQ ID NO: 27 and 29,respectively), immunogenic homologs thereof. The immunogenic homologspreferably share at least about 80% amino acid residue sequence identitywith the alpha or beta spice variant of human livin, more preferably atleast about 90% amino acid residue sequence identity, most preferably atleast about 95% amino acid residue sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 27or SEQ ID NO: 29. Alternatively, the vaccine can comprise a DNAconstruct that encodes one or more T-cell epitopes of a human livinprotein.

Due to the inherent degeneracy of the genetic code, DNA sequences thatencode substantially the same or a functionally equivalent amino acidresidue sequence to native (i.e., naturally occurring) cancer-associatedIAP-family proteins, such as human survivin, murine survivin, and humanlivin splice variants, can be used in the vaccines of the invention.Such DNA sequences include those which are capable of hybridizing to thenative survivin or livin DNA sequences, as well as allelic variants, andthe like. Preferably the DNA of the functionally equivalent homologsshare at least about 70% nucleotide sequence identity with the DNAencoding the aforementioned native survivin or livin proteins, morepreferably at least about 80% nucleotide sequence identity.

Immunoactive gene products encoded by the DNA constructs of the presentvaccines are preferably cytokines or ligands of natural killer cellsurface receptors. Particularly preferred cytokines are CC chemokinesParticularly useful CC chemokines are ligands for the CCR7 chemokinereceptor. Selective CCR7 ligands include CCL19 (also known as exodus-3,ELC, MIP-3β and CKβ11) and CCL21 (also known as exodus-2, SLC, 6Ckine,TCA4 and CKβ9). Particularly preferred chemokines are human CCL21 andits murine counterpart 6Ckine/SLC (muCCL21), and chemokinessubstantially corresponding thereto.

DNA and protein sequences for human SLC have been reported by Nishimuraet al., in the EMBL database of the European Bioinformatics Institute,Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, DNAAccession No. AB002409, the disclosures of which are incorporated hereinby reference. The murine CCL21a variant of 6Ckine/SLC DNA and proteinsequences have been reported by Hromas et al. J. Immunol. 1997;159(6):2554-2558, DNA Accession No. NM011335 in the EMBL database of theEuropean Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus,Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, the disclosures of which isincorporated herein by reference. The murine CCL21b variant of6Ckine/SLC DNA and protein sequences have been reported by Hedrick etal., J. Immunol. 1997; 159(4):1589-1593, DNA Accession No. NM011124 inthe EMBL database of the European Bioinformatics Institute, WellcomeTrust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, the disclosures ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

The nucleic acid sequence encoding human CCL21 (SLC) is presented inFIG. 6 (SEQ ID NO: 5), and its corresponding amino acid residue sequence(SEQ ID NO: 6) is provided in FIG. 7. The nucleic acid sequence encodingmurine CCL21 (CCL21b variant) is presented in FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO: 7), andits corresponding amino sequence (SEQ ID NO: 8) is provided in FIG. 9.

The protein homology between human CCL21 (SLC) and its murinecounterpart (murine 6Ckine/SLC, CCL21b) is illustrated in FIG. 10. Thereis about 73% amino acid residue sequence identity between human CCL21(SEQ ID NO: 6) and murine CCL21 (SEQ ID NO: 8) as shown in FIG. 10.

The nucleic acid sequence encoding the CCL21a variant of murine SLC ispresented in FIG. 25 (SEQ ID NO: 11), and its corresponding aminosequence (SEQ ID NO: 12) is provided in FIG. 26.

Preferred ligands for natural killer cell surface receptors are ligandsfor the murine NKG2D surface receptor. Preferred ligands for the NKG2Dsurface receptor are MICA, MICB, ULBP1, ULBP2, and ULBP3, and the like.Most preferably MICA and MICB. Other known ligands for NKG2D surfacereceptors include murine Rea-1β and murine minor histocompatibilityantigen peptide H60.

The murine H60 minor histocompatibility antigen peptide DNA and proteinsequences have been reported by Malarkannan et al., J. Immunol. 1998;161(7):3501-3509, DNA Accession No. AF084643 in the EMBL database of theEuropean Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus,Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference. A partial nucleic acid sequenceencoding murine H60 minor histocompatibility antigen peptide ispresented in FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO: 9), and its corresponding partial aminoacid residue sequence (SEQ ID NO: 10) is provided in FIG. 12.

DNA and protein sequences for human MICA have been reported by Zwirneret al., DNA Accession No. AY204547 in the EMBL database of the EuropeanBioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton,Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, the disclosures of which are incorporated hereinby reference. The nucleic acid sequence encoding human MICA is presentedin FIG. 27 (SEQ ID NO: 13), and its corresponding amino acid residuesequence (SEQ ID NO: 14) is provided in FIG. 28.

DNA and protein sequences for human MICB have been reported by Bahram etal. Immunogenetics 1996; 45(2):161-162, DNA Accession No. U65416 in theEMBL database of the European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome TrustGenome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, the disclosures of whichare incorporated herein by reference. The nucleic acid sequence encodinghuman MICB is presented in FIG. 29 (SEQ ID NO: 15), and itscorresponding amino acid residue sequence (SEQ ID NO: 16) is provided inFIG. 30. Allelic variants of MICB are described in GENBANK Accession No.NP 005922, incorporated herein by reference. FIG. 38 is a reproductionof the GENBANK entry for Accession No. NP 005922.

DNA and protein sequences for human ULBPI have been reported by Cosmanet al., Immunity 2001; 14(2):123-133, DNA Accession No. AF304377 in theEMBL database of the European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome TrustGenome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, the disclosures of whichare incorporated herein by reference. The nucleic acid sequence encodinghuman ULBP1 is presented in FIG. 31 (SEQ ID NO: 17), and itscorresponding amino acid residue sequence (SEQ ID NO: 18) is provided inFIG. 32.

DNA and protein sequences for human ULBP2 have been reported by Cosmanet al., Immunity 2001; 14(2):123-133, DNA Accession No. AF304378 in theEMBL database of the European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome TrustGenome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, the disclosures of whichare incorporated herein by reference. The nucleic acid sequence encodinghuman ULBP2 is presented in FIG. 33 (SEQ ID NO: 19), and itscorresponding amino acid residue sequence (SEQ ID NO: 20) is provided inFIG. 34.

DNA and protein sequences for ULBP3 have been reported by Cosman et al.,Immunity 2001; 14(2):123-133, DNA Accession No. AF304379 in the EMBLdatabase of the European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust GenomeCampus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference. The nucleic acid sequence encodinghuman ULBP3 is presented in FIG. 35 (SEQ ID NO: 21), and itscorresponding amino acid residue sequence (SEQ ID NO: 22) is provided inFIG. 36.

Particularly preferred natural killer cell surface receptor ligandsinclude ligands for the NKG2D receptor such as MICA, MICB, ULBP1, ULBP2,ULBP3, and functional equivalents thereof. The functional equivalentspreferably share at least about 80% amino acid residue sequence identitywith the aforementioned immunomodulating polypeptides, more preferablyat least about 90% amino acid residue sequence identity, most preferablyat least about 95% amino acid residue sequence identity.

Due to the inherent degeneracy of the genetic code, DNA sequences thatencode substantially the same or a functionally equivalent amino acidresidue sequence to the useful native immunoactive gene products such ashuman CCL21, murine CCL21, MICA, MICB, ULBP1, ULBP2, ULBP3, and likematerials substantially corresponding thereto can be used in thevaccines of the invention. Such DNA sequences include those which arecapable of hybridizing to the immunomodulating polypeptide DNAsequences, as well as allelic variants, and the like. Preferably the DNAof functionally equivalent homologs share at least about 70% nucleotidesequence identity with the DNA encoding the aforementioned nativeimmunomodulating polypeptides.

Altered DNA sequences that can be used in accordance with the inventioninclude deletions, additions or substitutions of different nucleotideresidues in the native polynucleotide sequence encoding a wild-typecancer-associated IAP-family protein resulting in a sequence thatencodes the wild-type protein or an immunogenic homolog thereof. Thealtered DNA sequences that can be used in accordance with the inventioncan also include deletions, additions or substitutions of differentnucleotide residues in the native polynucleotide encoding a wild typeimmunogenic gene product resulting in a sequence that encodes thewild-type immunoactive gene product or a functional equivalent thereof.Functionally equivalent immunoactive gene product may contain deletions,additions or substitutions of amino acid residues within a wild-typecytokine, or NK cell surface receptor ligand, which result in a silentchange, thus producing a functionally equivalent molecule. Such aminoacid substitutions (e.g., conservative substitutions) may be made on thebasis of similarity in polarity, charge, solubility, hydrophobicity,hydrophilicity, and/or the amphipathic nature of the residues involved.For example, negatively charged amino acids include aspartic acid andglutamic acid; positively charged amino acids include lysine andarginine; amino acids with uncharged polar head groups having similarhydrophilicity values include the following: leucine, isoleucine,valine; glycine, alanine; asparagine, glutamine; serine, threonine;phenylalanine, tyrosine.

As used herein, a functionally equivalent immunoactive gene product,such as a cytokine or NK cell surface receptor ligand refers to apolypeptide having substantially the same immunomodulating activity asits counterpart naturally occurring immunoactive gene product.

The DNA sequences operably encoding the IAP-family protein and theimmunoactive gene products useful in the vaccines of the invention maybe engineered to alter the coding sequences for a variety of purposesincluding, but not limited to, alterations that modify processing andexpression of the gene product. For example, mutations may be introducedusing techniques that are well known in the art, e.g. site-directedmutagenesis, to insert new restriction sites, to alter glycosylationpatterns, phosphorylation, and the like.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of vaccinating amammal against cancer. The method comprises administering to the mammala vaccine of the present invention, as described herein, in an amountsufficient to elicit an immune response against cancer cells. Preferablythe mammal is a human.

In another aspect, the present invention also encompasses transformedhost cells, which have been transfected with a vector comprising a DNAconstruct operably encoding an Inhibitor of Apoptosis-family protein andan immunoactive gene product, as described herein. The host cell can bea prokaryotic cell or a eukaryotic cell.

The present invention also provides isolated plasmid vectors comprisinga DNA construct operably encoding an Inhibitor of Apoptosis-familyprotein and an immunoactive gene product. The vectors are useful fortransfecting host cells, such as attenuated bacterial cells, forpreparing the vaccines of the invention.

The following examples are provided to further illustrate the featuresand embodiments of the present invention, and are not meant to belimiting.

Materials, Methods and Examples.

Materials.

C57/BL/6J and Balb/C mice were obtained from the Scripps ResearchInstitute breeding facility. The DNA encoding TIAP (the murine form ofsurvivin) was cloned by PCR from MC3P cDNA. The DNA encoding murine6Ckine (murine CCL21) was cloned from spleen cells. DNA encoding H60minor histocompatibility antigen peptide (the murine form of MICA andMICB) was kindly provided by Dr. David H. Ranlet of the University ofCalifornia (Berkley). The DNA for the vaccine encoding murine CCL21(muCCL21, also known as 6Ckine/SLC) and murine survivin (muSurvivin,also known as TIAP) was cloned into pBudCE4.1 eucaryotic expressionvectors from Invitrogen, Inc., using the restriction sites HindIII andBamHI for MuCCL21, and using XhoI for both ends of muSurvivin. The DNAfor the vaccine encoding H60 and TIAP was cloned into pBudCE4.1eucaryotic expression vectors from Invitrogen, Inc., using therestriction sites HindIII and XbaI for H60, and for muSurvivin, usingthe restriction sites KpnI and XhoI. An AroA⁻ attenuated strain ofSalmonella typhimurium (SL2707) and a doubly attenuated AroA⁻, dam⁻strain of Salmonella typhimurium (RE88) were obtained from Remedyne,Santa Barbara, Calif. Antibodies were obtained from BD Biosciences,Bedford, Mass. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and R-Phycoerythrin(PE) were obtained from Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg. FITC-labeled andPE-labeled antibodies were prepared according to the manufacturer'srecommended protocols.

Part a. Vaccines from Tranformed AroA⁻ Attenuated Salmonellatyphimurium.

Example 1 Preparation of a DNA Vaccine Encoding muSurvivin and muCCL21

The pBudCE4.1 vector containing muSurvivin and muCCL21 DNA (about 1-10μg of pDNA) was electroporated into freshly prepared attenuatedSalmonella typhimurium (SL2707), utilizing a Bio-Rad Pulser at 2.5 kV,25 μF, and 200 Ohm according to the manufacturer's recommendedprocedures. Salmonella containing the vector were selected onzeocin-containing plates. Colonies were picked the next day and culturedovernight in LB broth (EM Science, Gibbstown, N.J.) with zeocin added.The bacteria were isolated and washed in phosphate buffered saline(PBS). The washed bacteria were then suspended in PBS medium at aconcentration of about 1×10⁹ recombinant Salmonella per milliliter ofPBS, to form a vaccine solution for later use.

Control vaccines consisting of Salmonella transformed with the vectoralone, a vector incorporating only muSurvivin DNA, and a vectorincorporating only muCCL21 DNA were also prepared according to the sameprocedure. FIG. 13 provides a schematic representation of the expressionconstructs.

The vaccines were stored in sealed ampules until used. The plasmid DNAwas stored at about −80° C. before transforming the Salmonella.

Example 2 Vaccination of Mice with DNA Vaccines of Example 1

Balb/C mice (about 8 mice per treatment group) were vaccinated with theDNA vaccines of Example 1 (about 1×10⁸ recombinant Salmonella in about100 μl of PBS) by oral gavage, 3 times at 2 week intervals.

Example 3 Evaluation of Tumor Resistance of Vaccinated Mice

About 1 week after the last vaccination, Balb/C mice from Example 2(about 8 mice per treatment group) were challenged with about 1×10⁵ D121Lewis lung carcinoma cells (subcutaneously). The subcutaneous Lewis lungtumors were surgically removed after about 2 weeks of growth to allowspontaneous dissemination to the lung. Subcutaneous tumor growth wasmeasured in two dimensions every other day, and tumor volume wascalculated according to the formula:

volume=(width²)(length÷2)

for each tumor. The amount of spontaneous metastasis of D121 to thelungs was evaluated about 24 to about 28 days after removal of thesubcutaneous primary tumor. The mice were sacrificed and necropsied, andthe tumor burdens of the lungs were evaluated according to thepercentage of the lung surface that was covered by tumor and scored as“0” for no tumor, “1” for less than about 20% tumor coverage, “2” forabout 20 to about 30% tumor coverage, and “3” for greater than about 50%tumor coverage.

The tumor burden scores for the mice vaccinated with the vaccines ofExample 1 are provided in Table 1. FIG. 14 shows pictures of lungs frommice vaccinated with the vaccines of Example 1. Tumor volumes arereported in Table 1 and in FIG. 14. In FIG. 14, bar A represents theaverage lung tumor volume (in cubic millimeters) for mice vaccinatedwith the muSurvivin/muCCL21 vaccine of the invention; bar B representsthe average tumor volume for mice vaccinated with the vaccine that onlyincorporated muSurvivin DNA; bar C represents the average tumor volumefor mice vaccinated with the vaccine that only incorporated muCCL21 DNA;bar D represents the average tumor volume for mice vaccinated with thevaccine that only incorporated the empty vector; and bar E representsthe average tumor volume for mice vaccinated with PBS buffer. FIG. 14also includes pictures of representative excised lungs from eachtreatment group, shown below each of their respective bars from FIG. 14.

TABLE 1 Tumor Metastasis in Balb/C Mice Challenged with D121 Lewis LungCarcinoma Cells. Mouse Vaccination Group Metastatic Scores A.muSurvivin/muCCL21 Vaccine 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2 average lung tumorvolume: (0.242 ± 0.06 mm³) B. Control - muSurvivin Vaccine 1, 1, 2, 3,3, 3, 3, 3 average lung tumor volume: (0.483 ± 0.10 mm³) C. Control -muCCL21 vaccine 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 average lung tumor volume: (0.626± 0.06 mm³) D. Control - empty vector vaccine 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3average lung tumor volume: (1.152 ± 0.24 mm³) E. Control - vaccinationwith PBS 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 average lung tumor volume: (1.212 ± 0.35mm³)

The results provided in Table 1 and FIG. 14 (diagrams A and B)demonstrate that the DNA vaccine comprising a DNA construct encoding anIAP-family protein (i.e., muSurvivin) and an immunoactive gene product(i.e., muCCL21) can effectively immunize mice against lung tumormetastases and inhibited growth of lung tumors.

Example 4 T Cell Mediated Cytotoxicity Against D121 Lung Cancer CellsInduced by DNA Vaccine of the Invention of the Invention

C5/7BL/6J mice (about 8 mice per treatment group) were vaccinated withthe DNA vaccines of Example 1 as described in Example 2. Splenocyteswere isolated about 4 days after vaccination and analyzed for theirlytic activity in a 4-hour ⁵¹Cr-release assay, as described in CurrentProtocols in Immunology at 3.11.4, Coligan, et al. Eds., John Wiley &Sons, Inc. (1994). D121 cells were used as target cells for thesplenocytes.

FIG. 15 graphically illustrates T cell mediated cytotoxicity againstD121 lung cancer cells induced by the DNA vaccines of the invention. Thedata points represented by the open circles represent data frominhibition assays wherein the cells were treated with 50 μg/ml ofantibodies to H-2K^(b)/H-2D^(b) MHC class I antigens (clone SF1-1.1;34-2-12 IgG2a, κ) and the solid black squares represent data in theabsence of inhibiting antibodies. The percentage of lysis of tumor cells(Y-axis) is plotted for three different effector cell to target cell(E/T) ratios for each vaccination group (i.e., E/T of 100:1 for thefirst data point; 50:1 for the second data point; and 25:1 for the thirddata point). The results demonstrate that the muSurvivin/muCCL21 vaccineof the invention (labeled SLC/TIAP) induced almost a 5-fold increase inlysis at the 100:1 E/T ratio compared to control vaccines comprisingPBS, empty vector, and muCCL21 DNA, and an increase of about 2-fold overthe control vaccine comprising muSurvivin DNA alone.

Example 5 Upregulation of CD25, CD69 and CD28 Activation Markers inSplenocytes (CD8+ T Cells) from Vaccinated Mice

C5/7BL/6J mice (about 4 mice per treatment group) were vaccinated withthe DNA vaccines of Example 1 as described in Example 2. Splenocyteswere isolated from the immunized mice and the control mouse group about1 week after the last vaccination. The cells were then stained withFITC-conjugated CD8+ antibody and PE-conjugated antibodies of CD25,CD69, and CD28. The cell suspensions were evaluated using a two colorflow cytometry Becton Dickenson FAC scan to determine the percentage ofCD8+ T cells positive for CD25, CD 28 and CD69 for each splenocyte. Theresults are presented in FIG. 16. The numerical value in the upper righthand quadrant in each FACS plot indicates the percentage of cells thatpresented both CD8+ antigen as well as CD25, CD28, or CD69, as the casemay be. The numerical results are shown in Table 2. These resultsdemonstrate increased T cell marker expression with the vaccine of thepresent invention, indicating enhanced T cell activation.

TABLE 2 Upregulation of CD25, CD69 and CD28 Activation Markers inSplenocytes From Vaccinated Mice % CD25 % CD69 % CD28 Treatment and DC8+and DC8+ and DC8+ Control vaccine/PBS 7.3 11.2 1.62 Controlvaccine/empty vector 8.2 11.4 1.57 Control vaccine/muCCL21 10.2 12.9 2.3Control vaccine/muSurvivin 9.5 13.3 2.21 muSurvivin/muCCL21 vaccine 12.417.7 3.8

The data in Table 2 and FIG. 16 demonstrate that the inventive vaccineof Example 1, comprising a DNA construct encoding for muSurvivin andmuCCL21 leads to upregulated expression of T cell activation molecules.

Example 6 Enhanced Expression of Co-Stimulatory Molecules on DendriticCells in Vaccinated Mice

C5/7BL/6J mice (about 4 mice per treatment group) were vaccinated withthe DNA vaccines of Example 1 as described in Example 2. Splenocyteswere isolated from the immunized mice and the control mouse group about1 week after the last vaccination. The cells were then stained withFITC-conjugated CD11c antibody in combination with PE-conjugatedantibodies of co-stimulatory molecules B7 (CD80), ICAM-1, and DEC205.The cell suspensions were evaluated using a two color flow cytometryBecton Dickenson FAC scan. FIG. 17 graphically illustrates the meanfluorescence values for the cells showing increased expression of ICAM-1(top), CD80 (middle) and DEC205 (bottom) for splenocytes isolated frommice vaccinated with a the muSurvivin/muCCL21 vaccine of the invention,relative to the control vaccines.

Example 7 Induction of Intracellular Cytokine Release

Mice immunized as in Example 2 (8 mice per group) were challenged withD121 Lung Cancer Cells as in Example 3. Splenocytes were harvested fromeach mouse about one week after tumor cell challenge. The splenocyteswere stained with FITC-anti-CD3 antibody and then fixed, permeabilized,and subsequently stained with PE conjugated anti IFN-γ antibody. Thetwo-color stained cells were analyzed by FACS flow cytometry. Theresults are illustrated in FIG. 18. The cells were fixed using anintracellular staining starter kit from BD Pharmingen, La Jolla, Calif.

The results plotted in FIG. 18 demonstrate that the percentage of cellsreleasing the cytokine IFN-γ increased to about 3.17% for splenocytesisolated from mice vaccinated with a vaccine of the invention, comparedto only 0.41% for mice receiving the PBS control vaccine, about 0.38%for mice receiving the empty vector control vaccine, about 0.96% formice receiving the SLC control vaccine and about 1.53% for micereceiving the muSurvivin control vaccine.

Example 8 Enhanced Apoptosis of Lung Cancers Cell in Vaccinated Mice

Mice immunized as in Example 2 (8 mice per group) were challenged withD121 Lung Cancer Cells as in Example 3. Splenocytes were harvested fromeach mouse about one week after tumor cell challenge. The splenocyteswere incubated with D121 tumor cells at a temperature of about 37° C.,for about 3 hours. Tumor cells were then isolated and analyzed by FACSAnnexin V-FITC was used to quantitate the percentage of cells within thepopulation that are actively undergoing apoptotsis. Propidium iodide(PI) was used to distinguish viable from non-viable cells using anApoptosis Detection Kit available from BD Pharmingen, La Jolla, Calif.

FIG. 19 graphically illustrates the FACS analysis results evaluatedafter about 3 hours (top set of plots) and after about 24 hours (bottomset of plots). The number in the lower right quadrant of each plotrepresent the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis for eachtreatment group. After 3 hours, about 5.39% of the intact D121 cells(i.e., no exposure to splenocytes) had undergone apoptosis. About 2.28%of D121 cells incubated with splenocytes from mice vaccinated with acontrol vaccine containing only PBS buffer had undergone apoptotsis.Only about 5.19% of D121 cells incubated with splenocytes from micevaccinated with a control vaccine comprising the empty vector DNA hadundergone apoptosis. In similar fashion, about 5.15% of D121 cellsunderwent apoptosis when incubated with splenocytes from mice vaccinatedwith a control vaccine comprising the muCCL21 DNA alone; whereas about11.46% of D121 cells underwent apoptosis when incubated with splenocytesfrom mice vaccinated with a control vaccine comprising the muSurvivinDNA alone. Surprisingly, after 3 hours, about 18.44% of D121 cells hadundergone apoptosis when incubated with splenocytes from mice vaccinatedwith a vaccine of the invention comprising both muCCL21 and muSurvivinDNA.

Similarly after 24 hours, in a gated FACS analysis (gated for apoptosedcells), none of the intact D121 cells (i.e., no exposure to splenocytes)had undergone apoptosis. About 8.46% of D121 cells incubated withsplenocytes from mice vaccinated with a control vaccine containing onlyPBS buffer had undergone apoptotsis. Only about 4.78% of D121 cellsincubated with splenocytes from mice vaccinated with a control vaccinecomprising the empty vector DNA had undergone apoptosis. Surprisingly,after 24 hours, about 59.2% of D121 cells had undergone apoptosis whenincubated with splenocytes from mice vaccinated with a vaccine of theinvention comprising both muCCL21 and muSurvivin DNA.

Example 9 Preparation of a DNA Vaccine Encoding TIAP and Murine H60Minor Histocompatibility Antigen Peptide

The pBudCE4.1 vector containing TIAP and murine H60 minorhistocompatibility antigen DNA (about 1 μg of pDNA) was electroporatedinto freshly prepared attenuated Salmonella typhimurium (SL2707),utilizing a Bio-Rad Pulser at 2.0 kV, 25 μF, and 100 Ohm according tothe manufacturer's recommended procedures. FIG. 20 provides a schematicdiagram of the expression vectors for H60 and muSurvivin incorporated inthe vector.

Salmonella containing the vector were selected on zeocin-containingplates. Colonies were picked the next day and cultured overnight in LBbroth (EM Science, Gibbstown, N.J.) with zeocin added. The bacteria wereisolated and washed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The washedbacteria were then suspended in PBS medium at a concentration of about5×10⁹ recombinant Salmonella per milliliter of PBS, to form a vaccinesolution for later use.

Control vaccines consisting of Salmonella transformed with the vectoralone, a vector incorporating only muSurvivin DNA, and a vectorincorporating only H60 minor histocompatibility antigen (H60) DNA werealso prepared according to the same procedure.

The vaccines were stored in sealed ampules until used. The plasmid DNAwas stored at about −20° C. before transforming the Salmonella.

Example 10 Vaccination of Mice with DNA Vaccines of Example 9

Balb/C mice (about 8 mice per treatment group) were vaccinated with theDNA vaccines of Example 9 (about 5×10⁸ recombinant Salmonella in about100 μl of PBS) by oral gavage, three times at two week intervals.

Example 11 Cytotoxicity Assays of Splenocytes Isolated from MiceVaccinated DNA Vaccines of Example 10

Splenocytes were isolated from the mice vaccinated in Example 10 andwere stimulated with irradiated CT-26 cells. After 5 days, thesplenocytes were harvested and cytotoxic assays were preformed againstCT-26 cells and Yac-1 cells (NK-sensitive T cells) at targets. Thedegree of cell specific lysis was determined at E/T ratios of 25:1, 50:1and 100:1 by a 4-hour ⁵¹Cr-release assay, as described in CurrentProtocols in Immunology at 3.11.4, Coligan, et al. Eds., John Wiley &Sons, Inc. (1994). The results are graphically illustrated in FIG. 21.

The results indicate that splenocytes from mice vaccinated with avaccine of the present invention comprising muSurvivin and H60 DNAexhibited a two-fold or greater increases in lysis of CT-26 colorectalcancer cells compared to splenocytes isolated from mice vaccinated withthe empty vector, H60 and muSurvivin control vaccines at the 100:1 E/Tratio. Very little lysis of Yac-1 was observed for all vaccines at allE/T ratios, indicating that the killing observed was likely mediated byT cells.

Example 12 Evaluation of Tumor Resistance of Vaccinated Mice

About 2 weeks after the third vaccination, Balb/C mice from Example 10(about 8 mice per treatment group) were challenged with about 1×10⁵murine CT-26 colorectal cancer cells (intravenously; i.v.).

The amount of spontaneous metastasis of CT-26 cells to the lungs wasevaluated about 25 days after i.v. challenge with CT-26 cells. The micewere sacrificed and necropsied, and the tumor burdens of the lungs wereevaluated by recording the average weight of the lungs from each group.A normal lung weight is about 0.2 grams. FIG. 22 illustrates typicallungs (top) removed from the vaccinated, CT-26 challenged mice. FIG. 22also includes a graph (bottom) of average lung weight for each treatmentgroup. A dramatic decrease in tumor burden was observed for micevaccinated with the H60/muSurvivin vaccine of the invention compared tothe control vaccines.

FIG. 23 includes a graph of percentage of mice surviving after 26 daysfor each treatment group. A significant increase in survival wasobserved for mice vaccinated with the H60/muSurvivin vaccine of theinvention compared to the control vaccines.

Example 13 Evaluation of Expression of H60 and muSurvivin in 293T Cells

FIG. 24A illustrates expression of H60. 293T cells were transfected witheither empty vector (V) or pH60 (H) for 24 hours, harvested and stainedwith NKG2D tetramer, and analyzed by flow cytometry. The transfectionefficiency was about 45% as assessed by pGFP (Green Fluorescent Protein)transfection. FIG. 24B illustrates expression of muSurvivin. The 293Tcells were transfected with either empty vector or pmuSurvivin for 24hours, harvested, lysed and analyzed by western blot. The western blotindicates that muSurvivin is detectable in the transfected cells, butnot in the native cells.

Part B. Vaccines from Transformed AroA⁻, dam⁻ Doubly AttenuatedSalmonella typhimurium Example 14 Preparation of a DNA Vaccine EncodingmuSurvivin and muCCL21

The full-length coding regions for murine survivin (muSurvivin) andmurine CCL21 (muCCL21) were amplified by the reversetranscription-polymerase chain reaction using 1 μg of total RNAextracted from D121 mouse Lewis lung carcinoma cells and activated mousesplenocytes, respectively. Total RNA was extracted with the RNEASY® Minikit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) and RT-PCR was performed with a platinumquantitative RT-PCR thermoscript one-step system (Gibco/BRL) accordingto the manufacturer's instructions. Several constructs were made basedon the pBudCE4.1 vector (Invitrogen) by using the PCR products designedfor independent expression of two genes from a single plasmid inmammalian expression vectors. The first construct, muSurvivn/muCCL21comprising full-length murine survivin and murine CCL21, was insertedinto the multi-cloning site A between restriction sites HindIII andBamHI. Chemokine muCCL21 was generated by inserting the gene into themulti-cloning site B between restriction sites XhoI and NotI,respectively. The other vectors used for DNA vaccination were based onthe first construction rather than on the absence of either muCCL21 ormuSurvivin. The empty vector was generated as a control.

Protein expression of muSurvivin and muCCL21 was demonstrated by Westernblotting of cell lysates following transfection of plasmids into COS-7cells using anti-survivin and anti-CCL21 Abs, respectively. Expressionof EGFP activity in Peyer's Patches of C57BL/6J mice was detected inmice after oral administration of 10⁸ Salmonella typhimurium (AroA⁻,dam⁻ strain RE88) transformed with pEGFP. Mice were sacrificed at timepoints of 8, 16, and 36 hours and fresh specimens of small intestinewere removed for analysis after thoroughly washing with PBS.Fluorescence expression of EGFP was detected by confocal microscopy.

Possible toxicities caused in the host by the attenuated bacteria wereevaluated by comparing the doubly attenuated AroA⁻, dam⁻ strain RE88with the single attenuated AroA⁻ strain SL2707. Use of the RE88 strainresulted in the survival of all 16 mice without any obvious toxic sideeffects, whereas 2 of 16 mice immunized with the SL2707 strain died oftoxicity and infection. Thus, the dam⁻ mutation of the RE88 strain,which controls bacterial virulence, apparently rendered this strainparticularly useful as a DNA vaccine carrier.

Example 15 Oral Vaccination and Tumor Challenge of Mice with a Vaccineof Example 14

C57BL/6J mice were divided into five groups and were immunized 3 timesat 2-week intervals by gavage with about 100 μl PBS containing about1×10⁸ doubly attenuated S. typhimurium (RE88) harboring either of thefollowing: empty vector pBUd; individual expression vectors of eitherpBud-muSurvivn/muCCL21, pBud-muSurvivin, or pBud-muCCL21 along with PBStreatment groups. All mice in prophylactic treatments were challenged byi.v. injections of about 1×10⁵ D121 murine Lewis lung carcinoma cellsabout 1 week after the last immunization. In therapeutic settings, micewere first injected i.v. with about 1×10⁵ D121 murine Lewis lungcarcinoma and 1 week later were subjected to 3 vaccinations with thetransformed S. typhimurium. Mice were examined daily, sacrificed andexamined for lung metastasis about 28 days after tumor cell challenge inthe prophylactic setting or 63 days after the initial tumor cellinoculation in the therapeutic model.

Tumor metastasis scores following immunization with either PBS, emptyvector, CCL21, survivin or CCL21/survivin vaccines, respectively, forprophylactic treatment with the vaccines are shown in Table 3. Resultsin Table 3 are shown as metastasis scores expressed as the % lungsurface covered by fused metastatic foci: 0=none; 1=less than 5%; 2=5 to50%; and 3=>50%. Differences in metastasis scores between groups of micetreated with the CCL21/survivin vaccine and all control groups werestatistically significant (P=<0.001). Inhibition of tumor growth wasalso observed in this therapeutic model.

TABLE 3 Tumor Metastasis in Balb/C Mice Challenged with D121 Lewis LungCarcinoma Cells Post Vaccination. Mouse Vaccination Group MetastaticScores A. muSurvivin/muCCL21 Vaccine 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1 B. Control -muSurvivin Vaccine 0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3 C. Control - muCCL21 vaccine2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3 D. Control - empty vector vaccine 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,3, 3, 3 E. Control - vaccination with PBS 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3

In this prophylactic setting we observed decisive suppression ofdisseminated pulmonary metastases of D121 murine Lewis lung carcinoma inthe mice vaccinated 3 times at 2 week intervals and then challenged 1week later by i.v. injection of tumor cells. Indeed, 6 of 8 micecompletely rejected all pulmonary tumor metastases while the remaininganimals revealed a markedly increased suppression of tumor metastases(see Table 3). In contrast, the survivin-based DNA vaccine lackingmuCCL21 induced complete suppression of metastases in only one of 8animals, two exhibited less than 5% metastatic tumor growth, while allremaining mice showed extensive metastatic tumor growth. Additionalanimals that were treated only with control vaccinations of either PBSor empty vector showed no tumor protection at all and died within 4weeks after tumor cell challenge due to extensive metastases. Althoughimmunization with doubly attenuated Salmonella carrying only thesecretory muCCL21 plasmid did not dramatically suppress tumormetastasis, it still resulted in statistically significant delays ofmetastases when compared to controls.

Importantly, the muSurvivin/muCCL21-based DNA vaccine was also effectivein markedly suppressing the growth of already well established pulmonarymetastases in all experimental animals in a therapeutic setting. Incontrast, all mice receiving only the muSurvivin- or muCCL21-basedvaccines per se, or empty vector and PBS controls, revealed largedisseminated pulmonary metastases of D121 non-small cell lung carcinomain this experimental setting. Lung weights of the various experimentalgroups from the therapeutic model are indicated in Table 4. Normal lungweight was about 0.3 g.

TABLE 4 Tumor Metastasis in Balb/C Mice Pre-Challenged with D121 LewisLung Carcinoma Cells - Lung Weight. Mouse Vaccination Group Lung Weight(g) A. muSurvivin/muCCL21 Vaccine 0.34 ± 0.06 B. Control - muSurvivinVaccine 0.56 ± 0.09 C. Control - muCCL21 vaccine 0.86 ± 0.11 D.Control - empty vector vaccine 1.29 ± 0.4  E. Control - vaccination withPBS  1.2 ± 0.34

Example 16 Determination of Anti-Angiogenic Effects in the VaccinatedMice of Example 15

Two weeks after the last vaccination, mice were injected subcutaneously(s.c.) in the sternal region with about 500 ml of growth factor-reducedmatrigel (BD Biosciences) containing about 400 ng/ml of murine FGF-2(PeproTech, Rocky Hill, N.J.) and D121 tumor cells (1×10⁴/ml) which wereirradiated with 1000 Gy. In all mice, except for 2 control animals,endothelium tissue was stained 6 days later by injection into thelateral tail vein with 200 ml of 0.1 mg/ml fluorescent Bandeiraeasimplicifolia lectin I, Isolectin B4 (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame,Calif.); about 30 minutes later, mice were sacrificed and Matrigel plugsexcised and evaluated macroscopically. Lectin-FITC was then extractedfrom 100 ml of each plug in 500 ml of RIPA lysis and quantified byfluorimetry at 490 nm. Background fluorescence found in the twonon-injected control mice was subtracted in each case.

The muSurvivin/muCCL21-based vaccine decisively suppressed angiogenesisin the tumor vasculature. A significant decrease in tumorneovascularization was observed, as indicated by Matrigel assays andquantification by relative fluorescence measured after in vivo stainingof mouse endothelium with FITC-conjugated lectin. Macroscopicallyevident differences in tumor vascularization were observed among groupstreated with the muSurvivin/muCCL212 vaccine and control groups of miceupon examination of representative Matrigel plugs removed 6 days afters.c. injection of FITC-conjugated lectin. The mice vaccinated with avaccine of the invention exhibited significantly less tumorvascularization relative to the control groups.

Example 17 Cytotoxicity Assay

Splenocytes were isolated from successfully vaccinated mice 5 d aftertumor cell challenge. Cytotoxicity was assessed by a standard⁵¹Cr-release assay against targets of either D121 tumor cells or murineendothelial cells overexpressing survivin. To determine specific MHCclass I-restriction of cytotoxicity, the inhibition evaluations wereperformed with 10 μg/ml anti-mouse MHC class I H-2 Kb/Db Abs(PharMingen, San Diego, Calif.).

The ⁵¹Cr-release assay indicated marked cytotoxicity induced by specificCD8⁺ T cells obtained from mice after vaccination and subsequentchallenge with D121 Lewis lung carcinoma cells. The CD8⁺ T cellsisolated from splenocytes of mice immunized with eithermuSurvivin/muCCL21 or the muSurvivin vaccine per se, effectively lysed50% and 30% of D121 tumor cells, respectively. In contrast, CD8⁺ T cellsisolated from control animals were ineffective in evoking any noticeablekilling of tumor cells, as they showed only background cytotoxicactivities. Characteristically, the CD8⁺ T cell-mediated cytotoxicityobserved was MHC class 1 antigen-restricted since the cytotoxicity wascompletely eliminated by the addition of anti-H2 Kb/H2 Db Abs.

Example 18 Flow Cytometric Analysis and Cytokine Release Assay

Activation markers of T cells and expression of costimulatory moleculeson CD 11c and MHC class II Ag-positive DCs were determined by 2 or3-color flow cytometric analyses with a BD Biosciences FACScan. T cellactivation was determined by staining freshly isolated splenocytes fromsuccessfully vaccinated mice with FITC-labeled anti-CD3e Ab incombination with PE-conjugated anti-CD25, CD28 or CD69 Abs. Activationof costimulatory molecules on APCs was measured with FITC-labeledanti-CD11c Ab and biotinylated anti-IAb Ab, followed bystreptavidin-allophycocyanin, and in combination with PE-conjugatedanti-ICAM-1, CD80 or DEC205 Abs. All cytometric flow experiments wereperformed in the presence of 0.1 μg/ml propidium iodide to exclude deadcells. All reagents for these assays were obtained from BD Pharmingen(La Jolla, Calif.).

Flow cytometry was used for detection of intracellular cytokines. Tothis end, splenocytes were collected from B57BL/6J mice about 2 weeksafter D121 tumor cell challenge and cultured for about 24 hours incomplete T cell medium together with irradiated D121 cells as describedpreviously. Preincubated cells were suspended with about 1 mg purified2.4G2 Ab (BD Pharmingen) to block nonspecific staining. The cells werewashed and then stained with 0.5 mg FITC conjugated anti-CD3+ Ab. Afterwashing 2 times, cells were fixed and stained with 1 mg/ml PE conjugatedwith either anti-IL2 or anti-IFN-g Abs for flow cytometric analysis. AllAbs were obtained from BD Pharmingen (La Jolla, Calif.).

Only the muSurvivin/muCCL21 vaccine per se was optimally effective inmarkedly upregulating the expression of CD25, CD28 and CD69 T-cellactivation markers. The upregulation of CD28 is of particular importancesince its interactions with B7 costimulatory molecules on DCs is knownto be essential to achieve critical and multiple interactions betweennaïve T-cells and antigen-presenting DCs. In contrast, the DNA vaccinesencoding only muSurvivin or muCCL21 per se increased the expression ofthe T-cell activation markers only 1-fold. Activation of both CD4⁺ andCD8⁺ T-cells by the muSurvivin/muCCL21 vaccine was also indicated bytheir decisive increase in intracellular pro-inflammatory cytokinesIFN-g and IL-2. In comparison, PBS and empty vector controls as well asDNA vaccines encoding solely muSurvivin or muCCL21 were found to beconsiderably less effective in inducing these cytokines.

Upregulated expression of ICAM-1, CD80 and DEC205 on DCs, achieved bythe muSurvivin/muCCL21-based DNA vaccine is particularly important sinceit is well known that the activation of T-cells critically depends onstrong cell-cell interactions with these costimulatory moleculesexpressed on DCs in order to achieve optimal ligation with T-cellreceptors. Again, immunization with doubly attenuated Salmonellatyphimurium carrying eukaryotic plasmids encoding muSurvivin/muCCL21induced the most effective up-regulation of these activation markers,which was up to 2-3 fold higher than those of controls.

Example 19 Analysis of Tumor Cell Apoptosis

Apoptosis in D121 tumor cells induced by vaccination was measured atabout 3 hours and about 24 hours after vaccination, respectively. Bothcontrol and experimental animals were challenged i.v. with about 1×10⁵D121 cells 1 week after the last of 3 immunizations. Splenocytes wereharvested from each individual mouse 1 week after tumor cell challenge,and thereafter about 2.5×10⁷ splenocytes were co-cultured for 4 hourswith about 5×10⁵ D121 cells in 6-well plates. The ANNEXIN®V-FITCapoptosis detection kit II (BD Biosciences Pharmingen, San Diego,Calif.) was used for confirmation of early stage of apoptosis. Toconfirm later stage tumor cell apoptosis, about 5×10⁵ D121 cells andabout 2.5×10⁷ splenocytes were co-cultured for about 24 hours and thenanalyzed by FACS for apoptosis by the TUNEL assay with the APO-DIRECT™Kit (BD Biosciences Phramingen, San Diego, Calif.) according to themanufacturer's instructions.

Apoptosis was observed as early as 3 hours and with a considerablefurther increase after 24 hours as indicated by flow cytometric analysisof data obtained by either Annexin V or TUNEL assays. Thus, early stageapoptosis was up to 3 to 4 fold higher in groups of mice immunized withthe muSurvivin/muCCL21 vaccine than in controls after splenocytesharvested from such mice were co-incubated with tumor cells. The vaccineencoding muSurvivin alone triggered apoptosis somewhat, but only onefold higher than controls. However, a dramatic 85% increase in apoptosiswas observed at 24 hours only in mice immunized with themuSurvivin/muCCL21 vaccine, suggesting that a robust tumor cell immunityinduced by CTLs triggered this event.

Example 20 Preparation of a DNA Vaccine Encoding muSurvivin and H60

A plasmid containing the full-length murine NKG2D ligand-H60 was agenerous gift from Drs. A. Diefenbach and D. H. Raulet (University ofCalifornia, Berkeley, Calif.). Expression vectors were constructed on apBudCE4.1 (Invitrogen) backbone as described above.

Doubly attenuated S. typhimurium (AroA⁻, dam⁻) were transformed with DNAvaccine plasmids by electroporation as previously described hereinabove.Briefly, freshly prepared bacteria (about 1×10⁸), at midlog growthphase, were mixed with plasmid DNA (1-2 μg) on ice in a 0.1-cm cuvetteand electroporated at about 2.0 KV, 25 μF, and 100Ω. Resistant coloniesharboring the DNA vaccine vectors were cultured and stored at −80° C.after confirmation of the coding sequences.

Example 21 Oral Vaccination and Tumor Challenge of Mice with a Vaccineof Example 20

Groups of BALB/c A2 Kb mice (n=4-12) were immunized twice at a 2-weekintervals by gavage with 100 μl PBS containing approximately 5×10⁸doubly attenuated S. typhimurium harboring the expression vectors. Inprophylactic models, BALB/c mice were challenged i.v. with about 1×10⁵CT-26 cells 2 weeks after the last vaccination, and in therapeuticsettings 5 days before the first vaccination. Mice were sacrificed 25 dor 28 days after tumor challenge, and lung metastasis or tumor weights,respectively were determined and compared with those of controls. Thestatistical significance of differential findings between experimentalgroups and controls was determined by Student's t test. Findings wereregarded as significant, if two-tailed P values were <0.05.

Expression of H60 and muSurvivin were confirmed by transfecting 293Tcells and checked by flow cytometry or Western blot analysis. Theexpression of H60 was confirmed by the positive staining of NKG2Dtetramer. Cells transfected with Survivin tested positive as indicatedby a single band at the expected molecular weight of approximately 16.5KDa. The level of NKG2D ligand expressed by CT-26 is relatively low whencompared to the positive control, Yac-1 cells. Tumor cells with lowlevels of NKG2D ligand expression were previously reported to fail ininducing tumor rejection. In the prophylactic setting, lung weights andmetastasis scores (as described hereinabove) were assessed aftersacrifice of the mice 25 days after tumor challenge. The results areshown in Table 5 and Table 6. The data show that the H60 and muSurvivinvaccines individually protected the mice to some extent, whereas thecombination of H60 and muSurvivin (muSurvivin/H60 vaccine) greatlyenhanced protection against tumor challenges as demonstrated bysignificantly lower metastasis scores and decreased tumor loads in thelungs. These findings were statistically significant when compared toPBS, pBud, pH60 and pmuSurvivin control groups (p<0.0001, 0.002, 0.01,and 0.005, respectively).

In a therapeutic settings i.e. against established colon carcinomametastases, lung tumor burden was assessed after sacrifice at day 28.Significantly, 8 of 12 mice treated with H60/muSurvivin vaccine survivedand, more importantly, 2 of these surviving animals were completely freeof metastases, while 2 others had less than 5% of their lung surfacecovered by fused tumor metastases. By comparison, only 2 mice survivedin the empty pBud vector-treated control group, and more than 50% of thelung surface of all surviving mice was covered by fused tumormetastases. Vaccination with muSurvivin vaccine alone did not result inany significant protection in the therapeutic model, and treatment withH60 vaccine alone had only marginal therapeutic effect. The latter wassuggested by a slightly improved survival rate and by one of thesurviving mice having only <5% of its lung surface covered by fusedtumor metastases.

TABLE 5 Tumor Metastasis in Balb/C Mice Challenged with CT-26 CellsAfter Immunization. No. of Mice Mouse Vaccination Group MetastaticScores Surviving A. muSurvivin/H60 Vaccine 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 2 6 B.Control - muSurvivin Vaccine 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2 6 C. Control - H60 vaccine0, 1, 1, 1, 3, 3 6 D. Control - empty vector vaccine 3, 3, 3, 3 4 E.Control - vaccination with PBS 2, 3, 3, 3 4

TABLE 6 Tumor Metastasis in Balb/C Mice Challenged with CT-26 CellsBefore Immunization. No. of Mice Mouse Vaccination Group MetastaticScores Surviving A. muSurvivin/H60 Vaccine 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3 8 B.Control - muSurvivin Vaccine 3, 3 2 C. Control - H60 vaccine 1, 3, 3 3D. Control - empty vector vaccine 2, 3 2

Example 22 Cytotoxicity Assay

Cytotoxicity was measured by a standard ⁵¹Cr-release assay as previouslydescribed hereinabove. Briefly, splenocytes were harvested 2 weeks afterthe last immunization, and stimulated in vitro by irradiated (1,000 Gy)CT-26 cells at 37° C. for 5 days in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% FBS,L-Glutamine, 15 mM HEPES, non-essential amino acids, sodium pyruvate,2-ME and recombinant IL-2 at 20 U/ml (PeproTech, Rocky Hill, N.J.).Splenocytes were harvested and separated with Lympholyte-M cellseparation media (Cedarlane Laboratories Limited, Hornby, Ontario,Canada). Target cells were labeled with ⁵¹Cr for about 1.5 hours at roomtemperature, and incubated with effector cells at variouseffector-to-target cell ratios at about 37° C. for about 4 hours. Thepercentage of specific target cell lysis was calculated by the formula[(E−S)/(T−S)]×100, where E is the average experimental release, S theaverage spontaneous release, and T the average total release.

NK activity was found to be significantly enhanced in mice immunizedwith H60 vaccine, and even greater NK killing was observed in miceimmunized with the muSurvivin/H60 vaccine. Splenocytes from miceimmunized with the muSurvivin/H60 vaccine showed the highestcytotoxicity against CT-26 target cells. In contrast, such splenocytesisolated from pBud immunized controls revealed minimal cytotoxickilling, while those splenocytes from H60 vaccine or muSurvivinvaccinated mice per se showed somewhat higher cytotoxic killing. After 5days of cell culture, NK cells did not appear to play a major roll inthis cytotoxicity assay as no significant difference was seen when Yac-1NK target cells were used, suggesting the cytotoxicity detected wasmainly mediated by CTLs.

Numerous variations and modifications of the embodiments described abovecan be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novelfeatures of the invention. No limitations with respect to the specificembodiments illustrated herein are intended or should be inferred.

We claim:
 1. A DNA vaccine suitable for eliciting an immune responseagainst cancer cells comprising a DNA construct operably encoding atleast one cancer-associated Inhibitor of Apoptosis-family protein(IAP-family protein) and at least one immunoactive gene product in apharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 2. The DNA vaccine of claim 1wherein the cancer-associated IAP-family protein is a livin protein. 3.The DNA vaccine of claim 1 wherein the DNA construct operably encodeswild-type human survivin having the amino acid residue sequence of SEQID NO:
 2. 4. The DNA vaccine of claim 1 wherein the DNA constructoperably encodes human survivin splice variant having the amino acidresidue sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 23. 5. The DNA vaccine of claim 1 whereinthe DNA construct operably encodes human survivin splice variant havingthe amino acid residue sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 24. 6. The DNA vaccine ofclaim 1 wherein the DNA construct operably encodes an immunogenichomolog of wild-type human survivin having an amino acid residuesequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO:
 2. 7. The DNA vaccine ofclaim 1 wherein the DNA construct operably encodes human livin splicevariant having the amino acid residue sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 27. 8. TheDNA vaccine of claim 1 wherein the DNA construct operably encodes humanlivin splice variant having the amino acid residue sequence of SEQ IDNO:
 29. 9. The DNA vaccine of claim 1 wherein the DNA construct operablyencodes an immunogenic homolog of wild-type human livin having an aminoacid residue sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO: 27 or SEQ IDNO:
 29. 10. The DNA vaccine of claim 1 wherein the immunoactive geneproduct operably encoded by the DNA construct is a cytokine or a ligandfor a natural killer cell surface receptor.
 11. The DNA vaccine of claim1 wherein the DNA construct is operably incorporated in a plasmidvector.
 12. The DNA vaccine of claim 1 wherein the DNA construct isoperably incorporated in an attenuated bacterial vector.
 13. The DNAvaccine of claim 1 wherein the DNA construct operably encoding thecancer-associated IAP-family protein comprises a polynucleotide sequenceselected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 26, andSEQ ID NO:
 28. 14. The DNA vaccine of claim 1 wherein the DNA constructoperably encoding the immunoreactive gene product comprises apolynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ IDNO: 19, and SEQ ID NO:
 21. 15. A method of inhibiting tumor growth in amammal comprising the step of administering to the mammal an effectiveimmunological response eliciting amount of a DNA vaccine comprising aDNA construct operably encoding a cancer-associated IAP-family proteinand an immunoactive gene product in a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier, whereby said mammal exhibits an immune response elicited byvaccine and specific to tumor cells.
 16. An article of manufacturecomprising a vaccine of claim 1 packaged in a hermetically sealed,sterile container, the container having a label affixed thereto, thelabel bearing printed material identifying the vaccine and providinginformation useful to an individual administering the vaccine to apatient.
 17. An isolated plasmid vector comprising a DNA constructoperably encoding a cancer-associated IAP-family protein and animmunoactive gene product.
 18. A transformed host cell transfected witha vector comprising a DNA construct operably encoding acancer-associated IAP-family protein and an immunoactive gene product.19. A method of vaccinating a mammal against cancer, the methodcomprising the step of administering to the mammal an effectiveimmunological response eliciting amount of a DNA vaccine comprising aDNA construct operably encoding a cancer-associated IAP-family proteinand an immunoactive gene product in a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier, whereby said mammal exhibits an immune response elicited byvaccine and specific to tumor cells.